Subirrigating seed and transplanting flat



s. ELLIS Dec. 3, 1940.

, SUBIRRIGATING SEED AND TRANSPLANTING FLAT Filed July 11, 1959 2Sheets-5heet 3 Saw: Ema,

Shown/L Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics SUBIRRIGATINGSEED AND TRAN SPLANT- ING FLAT

Stuart Ellis, Fredericksburg, Va. Application July 11, 1939, Serial No.283,904

4 Claims.

circulating air to the bottom of the box whereby to insure thesuccessful growth of the seeds planted, or of the small plants, if thefiat is used for transplanting purposes.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a similar constructionfor flower boxes.

I attain these and other objects of my invention by the deviceillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a topplan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section through same on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the removable plate which is seated onthe bottom of the flat; and

0 Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in end elevation of theinvention.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

I provide a preferably square and preferably 25 metal flat or box havingsides I, ends 2, and bottom 3. At the central lower portion of one ofthe ends of the flat I provide a threaded enlargement or hub 5, in whichis mounted a short 40 grooves I5 in turn are in communication with.

grooves [6 which are aligned with and communicate with grooves H. Plate1 has its bottom portion provided with longitudinally extending raisedgrooves II and transversely raised 45 grooves l2 pressed slightly upwardat their central portions 13 and having lateral slots M for the inflowof water from the grooves E2 to the.

earth resting on the flat, from which moisture is absorbed by the rootsof the plants.

50 Each of the ends 8 are provided with crimps NJ to stifiien the endsand to facilitate grasping the plate to insert or remove it from the boxor flat, and which also frictionally holds the plate in place in thebox. 55 In use, the water is poured into the channels 9 .water for aweek or ten days.

at the end of the flat and thence flows through grooves l5 to grooves 16and thence to the channels or corrugations II and I2 and escapes throughthe lateral openings l4 into the earth in the flat, giving it thenecessary moisture p which is thus evenly distributed and which isgradually sucked up by the roots of the plants. When the moisture risesto the surface, the flat is then properly moistened and will need nomore Tiny seeds are 19 not disturbed as they are when watered from aboveregardless of how carefully the watering is done. Transplanted seedlingsare not uprooted but are left uninterrupted in their task ofreestablishing a root system. With this device there is an increase inthe percentage of germination and less danger of damping oil, as oftenresults from improper watering.

Also, the channels 9 and grooves I 6, I5, H and I2 permit of aircirculation through the end passages and beneath the flat. The provisionof the slots 14 laterally of the raised portion l3 prevents the earthfrom clogging the passages through which the water enters and allows thewater to flow out on a flat surface.

The screw 6 may be removed if it is desired to drain ofi the flatbecause of too much water.

The box may be either square or rectangular and of any desiredproportions.

What I claim is: 1. In a subirrigated seed and transplanting fiat, thecombination of a metal box, a corrugated metal plate seated in thebottom of the box and having upturned ends engaging the ends of the aseries of lateral. openings for the passage of water laterally from saidcorrugations at various portions to the earth in the box, said upturnedends also having channels for the flow of water to the bottom of thebox.

2. In a subirrigated seed and transplanting flat, the combination of abox, a corrugated plate seated in the bottom of the box and havingupturned ends engaging the ends of the box, por- 4 tions of thecorrugations being pressed upwardly and having a multiplicity of lateralopenings positioned over the main portion of the corrugated plate andspaced from its edges for the passage of water to the earth in the box,said upturned ends alsohaving channels communicating with the aforesaidcorrugations for the flow of water to the bottom of the box.

3. In a subirrigated seed and transplanting flat, the combination of abox of the shape de 4. In a subirrigated seed and transplanting fiat,the combination of a box, a longitudinally and transversely inverselygrooved plate seated in the bottom of the box and having upturned endsengaging the ends of the box, said ground portions of the plate havingspaced slots spaced from the edges of the plate for the passage of waterto the earth in the box, said upturned ends also having channelscommunicating with the aforesaid grooves for the flow of water to the 10bottom of the box.

STUART ELLIS.

